Parachute



C. L. WELSH.

PARACHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1919.

Patented J an. 13, 19.20.

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CLYDE L. WELSH, OF PITTSBURGH, PENN SYLITANIA.

PARACHUTE.

Speeieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application led April 17, 1919. Serial No. 290,855.

To all whom t concern.'

Be it known that I, CLYDE' L. WELSH, citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inParachutes, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in parachutes and particularlyIto that type of parachute adapted for being attached and carried uponthe back'of the aviator.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide a. device of thecharacter described, which may be worn by an aviator without impeding4his movements in the operation of the aeroplane, and which is positivein its operation by eliminating the' danger of entanglement of the linesto which the case ori dome of the parachgte is attached.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a parachute of the typesetj forth which is' simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable and efficient in its use and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as mayhereinaftenappear the invention consists of the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in .the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and wherein likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts lthroughout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved parachute in the open orexpanded position.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the hinged portion of the rim andbrace.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device in its collapsed stateas worn by the aviator during alllights.

It is a well known fact, corroborated by statistics, that most of theaviation casualties are due to the fall after the aeroplane has becomeinoperable from any reason whatsoever, and it is my intention to reducethese casualties to a minimum by providing a compact parachute which isdesigned to be worn at all times, during a flight, upon the back of theaviator. It is only necessary for the aviator to vleap clear of'hisaeroplane when damaged or unmanageable, when the expansion of myimproved parachute will 6, and the other ,.end, passing'through the Thecircular rim 4 carries a plurality o f vspring reels 5 equally'spacedthereon, each of which engages one of the-flexible members 2. The'rim 4is pivotally connected, by means ofthe hinge 6, to the brace 7, which 1sshaped to conform to the contour of the body of the aviator. Theheavystrap 8, secured'to the brace 7 and adapted to pass under the arms andbe buckled across the breast of the aviator, is provided for attachingmyimproved parachute to the body of the aviator.

To pallate the inconvenience to the aviator using my improved device,the outer surface of the brace 7 is provided with the cushion' 9. Forthe purpose of holding the device 4in its collapsed state upon `the backofthe aviator, I provide a flexible member or guy 10, one end of whichis attached to the rim 4 at a point diametrically opposite the hingeaperture 1l in the brace 7 is provided with the ring 12 adapted toengage in the hook 13 which is secured to the s trap 8.

The spring 14, attachedl to the rim 4 and to the brace 7, is ofvsufficient strength'to force the rim 4 to a position almost at rightangles with respect to the brace 7 when the guy 10 is released byremovingv the ring 12 from the hook 13. f f

In practice the operation of my device is as follows: The parachute, inits collapsed state as shown in Fig. v3 of the drawing,- s'strapped uponthe back of the aviator' 'by means of the strap 8 which passes under hisarms and is securely buckled over his breast. The guy 10 passes betweenhis legs and the ring 12 Aplaced-on the hook 13. The dome 1 will be heldin its collapsed position by the tabs 15 which are clamped between therim 4 and the brace 7. When desiringl 1 0 to make a descent the aviatorWill leap clear of his aeroplane and remove the ring 1,2

from the hook '13, which will allow the spring 14 to force the rim elout at right angles oruntil the ring l2 on the guy 10 strikes `theaperture 1l in the brace 7.

The tabsl now being released, the dome l, -now held only by the cords orwires 16 running crosswise in the rim 4:, will be expanded by thecurrents of air against the under side thereof caused by the rapidity afthe descent. The reels 5 will let out their respective lines 2, whichare of equal length, until all lines are drawn taut. With the parachutein this position the descent may be safely made. When it is desired tofold the device the spring reels 5 will rewind the lines 2, and the,dome 1 held in collapsed state as heretofore described. The guy line 10acts as a substantial brace while making `a descent and a plurality ofthem may used if so desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and the methodof operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to`Which the invention appertains, and while describing the principle ofoperation of the inven-l tion together with the device which is nowconsidered to be the best embodiment thereof it is to be understood thatthe device shown is merely illustrative and that various changes in theform, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resortedto without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parachute` comprising a flexible dome, a rim, a plurality of reelsmounted thereon, and flexible members connecting thesaid dome to thereels.

2. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a rim, a plurality of reelsmounted thereon, flexible members connecting the saiddome to the reelsand means for securing the said device to the body of an aviator.

A paracute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim, flexible membersconnecting the said dome lto the rim, and means for automaticallyreleasing the said flexible members for expanding the dome,substantially as described.

4.- A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim, flexiblemembers connecting the.. dome to the rim, and means carried on the saidrim permitting the release of the flexible members for the purpose l ofexpanding the said dome.

5. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim carrying aplurality of reels, flexible members connecting the dome to the rim, andmeans hingedly connected necting the dome to the rim, and a plurality"of spring reels carried by the said rim for members for collapsing thesaid dome, substantially as described and for the purpose Vset forth.

8. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, a circular rim, a pluralityof reels mounted thereon, flexible members connecting the dome to therim, and a brace hingedly connected to the rim for securing the deviceto the vbody of an aviator.

. 9. A parachute comprising a flexible dome, aL rim carrying a pluralityof reels, flexible members connecting the dome to the rim, a bracehingedly attached to the rim, and means for holding the said device in acollapsed position, substantially as described.

' 10. In a parachute the combination comprising a flexible dome, a rimhaving a plurality of reels mounted thereon, flexible members connectingthe dome to the rim, a brace hingedly connected to the rim, and

means for automatically positioning the said rim at right angles withrespect to the said brace for expanding the said dome, substantially asdescribed andy for the purpose set forth.

11. In a parachute the combination comprising a flexible dome, a rimhaving a plurality of reels mounted thereon, flexible membersconnectingthe dome to the rim, a brace hingedly connected to the rim, and tabsattached t0,y the dome adapted for being clamped between the rim and thebrace for securing the device in a collapsed position, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a parachute the combination comprising a flexible dome, acircular rim having a plurality of reels mounted thereon,

flexible members connecting the dome to the automatically withdrawingthe said flexible dome adapted for being clamped between Y the rimy andthe brace for holding tbe device I stantially as described and for thepurpose in collapsed position, 'a spring for forcing set/forth. f y 1 10the rim to a position at right `angles Wlth In `testimony whereof Iaixmy 4sigmature respect tto the brace for expandln the dein the presenceof a witness.

' vice, straps'attached to the brace or securing the device to .the bodyof al1-aviator, and OLYDE L" WELSH' a guy line for limiting the actionof the said Witness: 'p v spring and supporting the' saidl brace, subyJENNm JoNEs.

